U.S. patent number 6,780,108 [Application Number 10/142,138] was granted by the patent office on 2004-08-24 for networked multiple bingo game system.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Sierra Design Group. Invention is credited to Robert Anthony Luciano, Jr., Warren Rapelye White.
United States Patent |
6,780,108 |
Luciano, Jr. , et
al. |
August 24, 2004 |
Networked multiple bingo game system
Abstract
A system and method for providing more than one simultaneous and
different bingo game, using single bingo ball draws from a central
location. The present invention further provides for players to be
highly distributed, for example throughout the US, while still
using the single centralized ball draw and still supporting
different bingo games in parallel.
Inventors: |
Luciano, Jr.; Robert Anthony
(Reno, NV), White; Warren Rapelye (Reno, NV) |
Assignee: |
Sierra Design Group (Reno,
NV)
|
Family
ID: |
32871454 |
Appl.
No.: |
10/142,138 |
Filed: |
May 8, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
463/19;
463/42 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07F
17/32 (20130101); G07F 17/3286 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G07F
17/32 (20060101); A63F 009/24 () |
Field of
Search: |
;463/1,16,18,19,22,30,31,42,25 ;273/269,274,138.1 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Nguyen; Kim
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Marsden; Russ F.
Parent Case Text
RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims the benefit of provisional application
60/289,845, filed on May 8, 2001.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A bingo game system configured to allow at least two players to
play at least one bingo game, comprising: a ball sequence drawing
device; a central bingo server (CBS) in operable communication with
said ball sequence drawing device; a central bingo game controller
(CBGC) in operable communication with said CBS; at least two a
bingo game controllers (BGCs) in operable communication with said
CBGC over a network, and further where said BGCs and said CBGC are
physically distal from each other; a plurality of player terminals,
said player terminals further comprising a first set and a second
set of player terminals, where said first set is operably connected
to a first BGC using a first private network and said second set is
operably connected to a second BGC using a second private network;
and where said ball sequence drawing device is configured to draw a
ball sequence in accordance with what said CBS needs for any active
bingo games, and further where two or more bingo games share a ball
draw sequence, and where said CBS sends said ball sequence to said
CBGC, and where said CBGC sends a ball sequence based on said drawn
ball sequence to said BGCs, and where said BGCs provides needed
balls to any player terminals enrolled in the current bingo
game.
2. The bingo game system of claim 1 where each of said at least two
BGCs is in operable communication with exactly one CBGC at a
time.
3. The bingo game system of claim 2 where there are a plurality of
different bingo games being played on a plurality of player
terminals, and further where one bingo game is being played on said
first set of player terminals and a second bingo game is being
played on said second set of player terminals.
4. The bingo system of claim 3 where said drawn ball sequence is
made into sub-sequences by each of said plurality of CBGCs in
accordance with active bingo games being played.
5. The bingo game system of claim 1 where said BGCs are further
configured to detect winning events on said player terminals, and
provide for said player terminal an alternate visual representation
of said winning events.
6. The bingo game system of claim 5 where said alternate visual
representations are based on a reel slot machine.
7. A method of creating heightened player interest in bingo games,
the method comprising: purchasing at least one bingo card at a
player terminal; displaying said at least one purchased bingo card
on said player terminal electronically; drawing a predetermined
number of bingo balls electronically which is a number less than is
required for a full bingo game, and providing said drawn balls to a
central bingo server; distributing said drawn balls from said
central bingo server to a bingo game controller using a network;
distributing said drawn balls from said bingo game controller to
said player terminal using a private network; displaying said
distributed drawn balls on said player terminal; marking squares
corresponding to said distributed drawn balls on said purchased
bingo cards electronically; indicated a bingo win if said marked
squares form a predetermined pattern; and, returning to said
drawing a predetermined number of bingo balls and repeating the
sequence until a bingo win occurs.
8. The method of claim 7 where said predetermined number of bingo
balls is one of: two, three, four, five, or ten.
9. The method of claim 7 here said predetermined number of bingo
balls is a full set of bingo balls, and where said returning to
said drawing a predetermined number of bingo balls and repeating
the sequence until a bingo win occurs is returning to said
purchasing at least one bingo card.
10. The method of claim 9 where said marking of squares is
automated, requiring no player action.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention pertains generally to gaming systems. More
particularly, the present invention relates to a method and
apparatus for playing multiple, different parallel bingo games over
a very broad physical area using single centralized draws.
2. The Prior Art
Classical prior art bingo games are completely manual, encompassing
physical balls in a cage with a mechanical selection means or a
"blower" type selection means. After rotating a cage containing the
balls, or blowing the balls in an enclosure, a ball is blown into a
separate holding area or mechanically rolled into a separate
holding area; that ball is then picked up and read ("called") by a
ball caller. Each ball in the cage or enclosure is marked with a
letter and number (i.e., "N 42"), where the letters are one of B,
I, N, G, O, and the numbers are between 1 and 75.
Each player plays one or more BINGO cards. Each BINGO card has 5
rows and 5 columns. The columns are labeled from left to right with
the letters "B", "I", "N", "O" across the top of the card. With the
exception of the center space which is considered a free space, the
spaces in the card are printed with numerical values as follows:
each space in the "B" column contains a non-duplicative number from
1-15; each space in the "I" column contains a non-duplicative
number from 16-30; each space in the "N" column contains a
non-duplicative number from 31-45; each space in the "G" column
contains a non-duplicative number from 46-60; and, each space in
the "O" column contains a non-duplicative number from 61-75. The
balls discussed above are numbered in the same fashion (i.e., "N"
balls are numbered from consecutively from N-31 to N-45).
Players, sitting in front of the ball caller, mark a square on
their bingo cards in accordance with the called balls typically
using a dauber (a larger colored ink marker), thus the action of a
player marking their cards is called daubing. Players a responsible
for recognizing when they have won one of several pre-designated
winning patterns. One of those patterns will be called the winning
pattern or BINGO pattern. The first player to get the overall
winning pattern on one of their cards is the winner of that game,
and the game ends. An example winning pattern might be 5 adjacent
squares in a row or column. After the pattern is reached, any
prizes or awards are given out (including those awarded or won by
people who made other patterns that did not end the game, such as
"four corners"). Player purchase new cards and a new game
begins.
Bingo games have been automated in several ways over the years. One
automation technique is to automate the ball draw and ball "call"
(the ball caller is replaced by a large screen showing the balls as
they are electronically drawn), while the cards and daubing
remaining manual. Another is the use of a handheld device which
enable players to buy bingo cards, have them be displayed on a
screen, and electronically daub the squares corresponding to drawn
balls. Finally, there are bingo game that are run entirely
electronically, with a bank of machines in a casino or bingo hall
connected to a common Floor Game Controller or Remote Game
Controller. Players indicate which game they want to play (choices
are typically made based on the amount bet), and when there are
enough players the game begins. The balls are drawn electronically,
and the drawn balls shown on each player's machine. The player
typically pushes a button to electronically daub their cards as
balls are drawn. The first player to daub (manually or
automatically) the game-ending pattern wins, and a next game is
ready to play.
The problem with existing bingo games, including manual,
semi-manual, and existing electronic implementations, is that they
do not enable bingo game to be played across wide physical areas.
This limits the number of players playing any one game and
consequently the prize amounts. In addition, there is a limitation
of playing a single bingo game from each set of drawn balls. There
is a need to provide a significantly larger coverage for individual
bingo games, enabling more players to participate and larger prize
amounts to be awarded.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a method and apparatus enabling a
single centralized system to play multiple simultaneous different
bingo games using a single ball draw over an extraordinarily large
area (i.e., the continental US), thus enabling large numbers of
player of a large area to play the same games, further enabling
significantly larger prizes to be available than previously
possible.
A preferred embodiment will have be one central bingo system, a
plurality of central bingo game controllers (CBGCs) where each CBGC
controls at least one bingo game controller (BGC) and its
particular bingo variants. The central bingo system distributes
master ball draws to the CBGCs, and allocates electronic bingo card
ranges to CBGCs from a superset of non-repeating cards. The CBGCs
will typically be reasonably close to the central bingo system
connected by a LAN, and will use the first n balls of the master
draw as required by the game they master, will distribute the n
balls to each BGC (which will typically be a significant physical
distance from the CBGC to which it is operably networked, perhaps
1000's of miles), and will allocate electronic bingo card ranges to
BGCs from it's set of non-repeating cards. The BGCs will distribute
n balls to each player terminal or bingo electronic aid attached to
it, will distribute groups of cards to bingo electronic aids, will
activates cards for play as players elect to play, will play cards
to detect possible bingo winning events comprised of predetermined
patterns on bingo cards, will have the capability of alerting its
CBGC of a potential bingo (winning event), and will receive from a
player the player's signal or indicia that the player has
recognized the winning event and has caused the machine to
recognize it, and in such cases where that is required (i.e., in
cases where winning bingo events are presented to a player in
alternate visual forms, such as simulating a horse race or
simulating a reel slot game), the BGS, electronic bingo aid, or
CBGC will generate the alternate visual form corresponding to that
winning bingo event.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a bingo gaming system
according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of multiple bingo games playable from a
single ball draw according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of an example bingo system according to
the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Persons of ordinary skill in the art will realize that the
following description of the present invention is illustrative only
and not in any way limiting. Other embodiments of the invention
will readily suggest themselves to such skilled persons having the
benefit of this disclosure.
Referring to the drawings, for illustrative purposes the present
invention is shown embodied in FIGS. 1 through 3. It will be
appreciated that the apparatus may vary as to configuration and as
to details of the parts, and that the method may vary as to details
and the order of the acts, without departing from the inventive
concepts disclosed herein.
The current invention comprises a networked bingo gaming
infrastructure that enables a single central bingo gaming machine
or machines to run a plurality of bingo games and a plurality of
physically disparate sites, using one or more ball draws for all
games, specified subsets of games, or for each game. The present
invention also enables the creation of alternative displays of a
winning bingo event, where the results of a bingo win or other
bingo game state are shown in a manner that has the visual
appearance of a sports event, a gaming machine, or other
interesting representation.
An infrastructure in accordance with the present invention is shown
in FIG. 1. There is a ball drawing device 100, which may be a
mechanical device operated be a person who has input means into the
Central Bingo System 102 (such as a PC with a network card and a
keyboard where the person types in the drawn ball numbers), an
automated ball draw device having the needed electronic support to
be in operable communication with Central Bingo System (CBS) 102,
or a fully automated system which generates ball drawings
electronically with no actual physical balls present and is in
operable electronic communication to CBS 102.
CBS 102 is typically a data processing device or computer operably
configured to support the compute requirements of a centralized
bingo device, and having the well-known-in-the-art hardware
components including a CPU, memory for the CPU, and I/O interfaces
including but not limited to keyboard, disks, and operating system
such as Microsoft's .RTM. NT.RTM. or Linux, and at least one
network interface in operable communication with network 106.
Network 104 is shown as a cloud to represent any combination of
LAN, WAN, or perhaps Internet connections needed to transport data
to from CBS and Central Bingo Game Controllers (CBGCs) to the Bingo
Game Controllers (BGC) at local sites. It may be the case that
network 104 and network 106 may be the same network, depending on
the installation. CBS also has the software needed to run bingo
games as described herein, the software being operably disposed
within CBS 102.
Also shown are several CBGCs, indicated generally as CBGC 112
representing standalone systems and connected via network 106 to
CBS 102. Another embodiment would have CBGC 108 implemented as a
software component inside of CBS 102. In a preferred embodiment,
each CBGC will be a standalone system, and will control the bingo
games (types of bingo games) allocated to it. The CBGCs will
typically be in close physical proximity to CBS 102, at a central
location, indicated by dotted line box 110.
Each CBGC is assigned one or more Bingo Gaming Controllers (BGCs),
where the assigned BGC is only controlled by that CBGC and no
other. The BGCs are located at remote sites from its assigned CBGC,
covering any physical distance and in operable communications over
network 104. As mentioned above, network 104 may be any type of
operable network connection, including any combination of LANs
and/or WANs, including making use of the internet, with the present
invention fully contemplating that BGCs may de distributed
throughout the United States.
Each BGC is operably connected to local bingo electronic aids
(BEAs). BEAs are typically connect to a BGC via a serial
connection. The present invention fully contemplates the ability to
use any networked connection, with another preferred embodiment
being an ethernet-based LAN.
There is at least one ball draw to play one or more bingo games,
which may be carried out in ball drawing device 100 or internally
to CBS 102. At least one set of bingo cards is also created (in
this case, electronic representations of bingo cards), where each
card set is further divided into decks, with decks being kept
(stored electronically) and distributed by CBS 102. IT may also be
the case that the software used to generate the bingo card sets,
and then divide them into decks, also runs on CBS 102. In one
preferred embodiment, one deck at a time will be electronically
sent (they may be simply assigned and then drawn from, but this
would only be an embodiment for less physically disparate
installations) to a designated CBGC. The decks are selected by
either a random method, a predetermined method, or by the type of
bingo games that are being played by the individual bingo game
machines controlled by each CBGC. After the card decks are
distributed and available to the CBGCs, the CBGCs further
distribute cards to the individual BGCs under their control. BGCs
enable individual cards to be played by individual bingo electronic
aids (BEAs), where there may be more than one card allocated at a
time to an individual machine to be played by a player, depending
on the bingo game being played and the amount the player has
purchased.
Reference has been made to different bingo games. Although the
"traditional" bingo card is a 5.times.5 matrix, any size card may
be used coupled with any set of pre-designated winning patterns, in
addition to having different bingo games having different sets of
pre-designated winning patterns. For example, it would be entirely
possible to have bingo games played on 2.times.2 cards, although it
would not be very interesting to most players.
In any case, different games may require a different number of
balls to be drawn. Note that the ball draws may be handled
differently to conform to jurisdictional requirements. For example,
if it is decided that the bingo games must be played in real time,
without any electronic device (including the central server)
determining ahead of time if there is a winning bingo card and who
has it, the ball draw may be made by electronically drawing a
complete set (all 75 balls), and that draw sequences then being
sent to each CBGC. If that is not a requirement, then a ball draw
could be created where the cards in play are compared to the ball
draw, and the ball draw sequence stopped when it is known there is
a winning card. Which is chosen will also be determined by how the
player bingo terminals (Bingo Electronic Aids, or BEAs), run by the
BGCs, are implemented. If the daubing is not automated, then there
is a possibility a player will be a "sleeper", that is, someone
whose card is a winner but missed marking a ball or two, thereby
enabling another player to win bingo first by being the first to
declare a win. In that case, since the mere existence of a winning
card is not enough to determine a winner, the entire ball sequence
will be generated. If the BEAs are auto-daubing (daub the squares
on a card corresponding to drawn balls without player
intervention), then the ball draw sequence can stop as soon as it
is determined there is a winning card. All such variations are
fully contemplated by the present invention.
After the start of a game, it is possible using the present
invention to have a single ball draw run multiple games. This is
shown in FIG. 2. After a ball sequence of n balls is generated by
mechanical or electronic means as shown in box device 200, the
sequence is either transmitted and/or stored and used by CBS 202.
CBS 202 then distributes the ball sequence, or a subset thereof, to
each CBGC. FIG. 2 shows three CBGCs: 204; 206; and 208, where each
is playing a different bingo game. CBS 202 will distribute the
appropriate ball sequence length to each CBGC (the original
sequence length "n" was drawn to include the longest sequence
needed by any operable or in-play CBGC, thereby including any
shorter sequence needed by other CBGCS). FIG. 2 shows the local
bingo game controllers (BGCs) receiving the needed ball sequence
for the type of bingo game being played by the individual bingo
electronic aids (BEAs) under the BGCs control. BGC 210 and BGC 212
are controlling the same type of bingo games, and are therefore
using the same ball sequences, so receive the same sequence from
the same CGBC 204. BGC 214 receives its ball sequence from CBGC
206, and BGC 216 receives its ball sequence from CBGC 208. In all
cases the card decks have been previously generated and distributed
by CBS 202 to each CBGC, and each CBGC has passed decks or portions
thereof to BGCs, which present them to players for play and on
which the current ball sequence being sent to each BGC will be
used.
Individual bingo player or playing stations are shown and indicated
as BEA 218a through BEA 218x. Any number may be present. A typical
player terminal will have high-resolution video monitors and I/O
devices, including but not limited to touch screens, buttons,
keyboards, ticket printers, network interfaces, and
electro-luminescent attract panels, and are not limited to one form
factor. These components are operably interconnected to perform the
functions needed of a BEA.
A unique aspect of the current invention is the ability, using the
displays of the BEA, to generate alternative displays of any and
all bingo results. This would be particularly useful or enticing
when presenting the results of a game such as "bonanza bingo",
where the ball sequence is typically presented at a single time
(the entire draw sequence at one time) and mapped immediately to a
card. Alternatively, a linear mapping of each ball (letter-number)
in a sequence may be mapped as they are made available onto a card
purchased by a player. The card may or may not be displayed on the
screen as the balls are mapped to the individual squares of the
bingo card--this display or non-display of the card as it is being
filled in or marked off electronically may be up to the player.
Once the results of the game being played are known, the player may
choose, or the system may choose, to represent the outcome in a
form other than the traditional bingo card, called entertainment
images (EIs).
EIs are generated such that they match the value of the bingo game
just played, but are symbolically represented in a form the player
chooses. One such EI would be a slot machine, where the EI shows a
typical slot machine that has stopped (or is stopping and then
stops) such that the payline(s) on the reels have a value equal to
that of the bingo game just finished. Another could be a poker hand
or a sequence of hands, again resulting in the same value as the
bingo game just completed. Another would be a sports event, where
the results of the winning bingo game are appropriately mapped into
a winning sports event and graphically displayed. Numerous similar
EIs will readily come to the mind of a person of ordinary skill in
the art and with the benefit of the present disclosure.
Thus, the present invention allows for multiple bingo games to be
played simultaneously using the same ball draw in a manner that
will be entertaining while retaining the essential characteristics
of bingo games, and further permitting the player a choice of
output forms.
FIG. 3 shows a method enabling a centralized ball draw with
multiple remote bingo game playing capability. Box 300 corresponds
to the actions of creating a bingo card set electronically for each
type of bingo game needed (there may be a plurality of sets
created), dividing each set into decks, then distributing the decks
to the needed level of game controller, enabling each player
terminal (or BEA) to send a signal to the controller for individual
bingo cards as needed. 300 is not shown as re-entered, but it is to
be understood that the BGCs will generate requests for decks as the
decks are used up; when the CBGCs have distributed their last deck,
they will generate a request for more decks to the central server
for the overall centralized bingo game system. This system will
then generate a new set of cards for the bingo games needed, divide
it into decks, and then electronically store and send the decks as
needed by the CBGCs. This will be happening during the entire time
the system is up and serving bingo games.
Entering decision point 302, the central system (alternatively, the
system designated to create the ball sequences in communication
with the central server) determines if a full or partial ball draw
is to be made. This determination can be made on numerous criteria,
including if the player terminal connected to the BGCs use
automated daubing. If they do, the ball draw can be tailored to the
exact number needed for the winner to be declared, by comparing the
results of the randomized ball draw with the cards that have been
bought by players. There are other cases where it may be decided to
use full draws, even if the BEAs use automated daubing. Another
case would be where there is enough of a delay in network 104 of
FIG. 1 to create frustration on the players part. Yet another is if
the requirement is based on local laws of a jurisdiction where
players are located. The specific ball draw type used will be
determined for each installation.
Whatever criteria are used (performance, jurisdictional
requirements, etc.), the full criteria set being represented by
decision point 302, a decision is made if a full or partial ball
draw is made for the bingo game play. If a full ball draw is to
made, the "No" exit is taken to box 304. The actions corresponding
to 304 are that an entire ball sequence is created, long enough to
cover all outstanding games (games in play). Box 304 is left and
box 306 is entered. The ball draw is sent to the CBGCs to the BGCs.
Box 306 is left and box 308 entered.
The action corresponding to box 308 are the player purchasing one
or more bingo cards at the player terminal (BEA), thus enrolling
the player in the current bingo game. NOTE! Although shown as
occurring after the ball draw, in many systems these activities
happen either in parallel, or the players enroll by buying bingo
cards after which a ball sequence is (or may be) generated. All
such variations in sequences of events are fully contemplated
herein, and all are supported by the disclosed bingo
infrastructure.
After enrolling, box 308 is left and box 310 is entered. The
actions corresponding to box 310 are those associated with a player
playing a bingo game, watching the ball sequence appear before them
on their BEA, or an a display screen visible to the players at a
particular site. The player indicates to the BEA or player terminal
when the balls are to be daubed. Play continues until a player
declares themselves to be a winner, where box 310 is left and box
312 entered.
312 corresponds to the actions of having a player indicate to the
BEA or player terminal that they have a winning bingo card, or, if
a winning bingo ball is daubed, the BEA indicated to the BGC that
the player has a winning card. The BGC checks to see if this is
correct (i.e., do the balls called or sent correspond to a winning
bingo card currently being played by the player), and if so, halts
the game. Awards are made, and box 312 is left for box 302,
beginning the play sequence again.
If, at decision point 302, the ball draw sequence will be only
carried out until it is determined that a winning sequence has been
generated, the "Yes" exit is taken to box 314. The actions taken in
314 correspond to those needed to generate a ball draw sequence
that results in a winning pattern on each of the games being
played, using the cards bought or to be bought. Box 314 is left and
box 316 entered. The actions corresponding to 316 include
distributed the short ball sequence to the CGBCs, and then to the
BGCs. Box 316 is left and box 318 entered. The actions
corresponding to box 318 are those of a player purchasing bingo
cards, and the BGC providing them to the BEA. As discussed above,
this action may have occurred much earlier than shown in the
illustration. Continuing on with 320, once players have enrolled in
the current bingo game by buying bingo cards, the balls are
illustrated in some manner on the BEA, with any winning patterns
being shown on the bingo card or alternative display.
In overview, one preferred embodiment will be one CBS, a plurality
of CBGCs, where each CBGC controls at least one BGC and its
sub-game. The CBS distributes master ball draws to the CBGCs, and
allocates electronic bingo card ranges to CBGCs from a superset of
non-repeating cards. The CBGCs will use first n balls of the master
draw as required by the game they master, will distribute the n
balls to each Bingo Game Controller, and will allocates electronic
bingo card ranges to BGCs from it's set of non-repeating cards. The
BGCs will distribute n balls to each BEA attached to it, will
distribute groups of cards to BEAs, will activates cards for play
as players elect to play, will play cards to detect possible bingo
(winning events), will have the capability of alerting its CBGC of
a potential bingo (winning event), and will receive from a player
the player's signal or indicia that the player has recognized the
winning event and has caused the machine to recognize it, in such
cases where that is required (i.e., in EI situations there may be
some bingo play where the player does not need to explicitly or
manually indicate a winning event, rather, the BGS or CBGC does it
and then generates the EI corresponding to that winning event or
bongo event).
In another preferred embodiment, bingo games can be played with
paper or with a BEA, either simultaneously using the same draws or
separately using independent draws.
In another preferred embodiment, bingo play, such as Bonanza,
wherein cards and draws are predetermined prior to sales and
distribution, simultaneous manual and BEA play could operate. In a
real time draw/display simultaneous play could also operate and/or
the BEA could also operate a faster draw game.
As introduced earlier, once a game outcome is determined in terms
of the amount won, a display outcome can be reverse mapped into a
display image that correlates with an award paytable (such-as
Double Diamond) to provide enhanced player entertainment. By
initiating the animated display sequence (such as an animated reel
spin). When the draw request occurs, enables the entertainment of
display to proceed while the draw process and communications are
completed, mapping the final display symbols into the ending
display sequence. (Additionally, portions of the outcome can be
allocated for secondary award or bonus display sequences.)
The results of the draw(s) can be simultaneously displayed on the
same display device or can be displayed on a separate display
device on the BEA.
In some variations, game can be played with paper or with BEA,
either simultaneously using the same draws or separately using
independent draws.
In a bingo play, such as Bonanza, wherein cards and draws are
redetermined prior to sales and distribution, simultaneous manual
and BEA play could operate in a real time draw/display
simultaneous. Play could also operate and/or the BEA could also
operate a faster draw game.
Once a game outcome is determined in terms or the amount won, a
display outcome can be reverse-mapped into a display image that
correlates with an award paytable (such as Double Diamonds) to
provide enhanced player entertainment. By initiating the animated
display sequence (such as an animated reel spin) When the draw
request occurs, enables the entertainment of display to proceed.
While the draw process and communications are completing, mapping
the final game display of cards and draws can occur at general
levels of network hierarchy, such as a remote site, local central
computer or at game cluster levels. Card selection could occur at
the BEA level (from a predetermined set).
Since the probability for some defined sequences, such as the first
five draws resulting in an ordered bingo is extremely low (about 1
in 2 billion plays) this can provide for a lot of game draws
against pre-selected card sets before a game is computed. This can
provide for very high jackpots such as $10 million for 25.cent. per
card with a 2% progressive fund contribution.
Also, additional game variety can be provided by offering several
game types from the same draw, each having variations of lower pay
award sequences (such as a "b" or an "o" in a comer).
Further enhancement to game variety occurs with games that use a
predetermined number of balls per draw, such as 5, repeated until
the game is complete. This provides a large variety of combinations
and is very fast. It is possible to have multiple games operating
off the same draw cycle each using different sub-sets of the draws
(such as the first five, the first ten, the first twenty and so on)
to operate a larger variety of game pay award combinations.
Although the description above contains much specificity, the
description should not be construed as limiting the scope of the
invention but as merely providing an illustration of the presently
preferred embodiment of the invention. The scope of this invention
should be determined by the appended claims and their legal
equivalents.
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